Parachute suit



P. BUNEVAC PARACHUTE SUIT Aug. 23, 1927.

Filed March 5. 1927 v INVENTOR Saul Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITEDv STATES 1,640,110 PATENT OFFICE.

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Application 111m luck 5, 1m. 8611!]. 1a. 11am.

This invention relates 'to a parachute which is adaptable either for life saving, or for exhibition purposes, and its object is to provide a device which will afford adequate support for a person in the air to enable him to descend slowl and safely to the ground.

A further ob ect is a positive means to ensure the openmg of the apparatus at the proper time and under the control of the user.

Another feature is a means for guiding the course of the descending person and varying same at will.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully described and pointed out in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the figure of a man. with the device secured to his person and opened as in full operation.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of same.

.Fig. 3 shows a top view of the devlce somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged fragmentary top view of the rib lifting elements.

Fig. 5 shows a section on the line 5-5 of Fi re 3.

ig. 6 shows a fragmentary vertical section of the elements shown in Figure 4, but taken at the point of attachment of one of the arm loops.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, the apparatus comprises a supporting girdle, or frame 10 from which extends outward circumferentially, a covering 11 which ma be of fabric, or of any suitable materia This covering is secured at its outer edges to ribs as seen at 12, 13 etc., which ribs are supported at their inner ends from the frame structure. Flexible tie members as seen at 14., 15 etc. limit the outward spread of the said ribs. These tie members are secured to a secondary girdle 16.

A garment of proper form and material 17 is secured to the supporting and the secondar 'rdles as shown. This garment is provided with a web member 18 which is secured to the legs thereof in the manner illustrated.

Loops 19 and 20 are adapted to encircle the arms of the wearer and afford a means whereby he may open, or close the cover element at will.

A top plan view of the apparatus is shown in Figure 3 and a sectional view in Figure legs into various 5. In these views a rin 24 is shown which mav be used to suspen the device from a bal oon, airship, or the like.

A rib sup rting band is shown at 25 in Figure 5' an the ribs are pivotally secured thereto-as seen at 26, 27 etc. The further description of the ribs maybe best understood on reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawin The construction being as fol lows. eferring first to Figure 4, the rib 12 is seen to have an arm 30 which terminates in the butt end 31 which is pivoted between the lugs 32 and 33. At a point a short distance from the point of attachment, a curved sleeve 34 is brazed, or otherwise suitably secured to the rib. This sleeve is provided. with a slot as shown at 35. Inserted within the sleeve at eachside are curved ring segments as seen at 36 and 37. These being retained by thepins 38 and 39. This form of construction is employed for the complete circumference of the apparatus at this point.

On opposite sides of the device the arm loops 19 and 20 are secured to liftingbars as seen at 38 and 39' in Figure 5, which are attached to rib members as best seen in Figure 6. These bars pass through suitable slits in the covering material.

The apparatus is secured to the wearer by means of the garment and the frame girdles and is folded in closed position in the manner of an umbrella. It may be opened at will by raising the arms as illustrated. When this is done, the arm loops act through the lifting bars to raise the ribs to which they are attached. This lifting force is communicated to the remaining ribs through the ring segments and the sleeve members, the segments sliding in the sleeves to compensate for the increased spread in the new position. I

The web member 18 is used by the person descending to guide, or steer himself in the course desired. The spreading of the legs causes it to react tothe air ressure in the manner of a rudder and the ending of the positions enables the user to direct his course.

\ While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention herewith, I do not wish to be held rigidly to the exact details of construction as illustrated, but claim the right to such minor modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. 'In a parachute of the class described, central supporting members adapted to be secured about the body of an individual, a collapsible, air resisting element secured in positlon concentric to the said supporting members and itself supported by rib members thereto attached, and means to limit the spread of the said collapsible element and to hold it, when open, in a downwardly concave cured to the said supporting band and a flexible air resisting cover element spread thereon and secured ,to the said ugper girdle and the said rib members and aving tie members connecting the same to the said lower girdle, arm loops secured. to the supporting structure of the cover element, and a web member attached between the legs of the aforesaid garment, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a parachute of the class described, a central supporting structure comprising upper and lower girdle members and a rib supporting band adjacent to the said upper girdle and the whole adapted to be secured about the body of a person, and a garment secured to the said structure and having leg members depending therefrom and a web element secured between the said leg members, a collapsible, air resistin covering element secured centrally to t c said upper girdle and resting upon and secured to rib members which are plvotally attached to the said supporting band, the said rib members being each provided with curved sleeve ele-' ments which are integral therewith at points near to the base ends thereof, ring segments supported within the said curved sleeves and connecting them together, and arm loops locatedv at opposite sides of the central structure and connected to the rib members adj acent thereto, and tie members secured to the said collapsible covering element and to the said lower girdle, substantially 'as shown and described.

4. In a parachute of the class described, a central supporting structure adapted to be secured about the body of an individual, acollapsible, air resisting cover element secured thereto and supported on suitable rib members, an extensible element connecting the said rib members, and arm loops secured to rib members adjacent thereto at opposite sides of the supporting structure, and tie members connecting the outer edges of the said. cover element to the central structure and adapted to limit the spread of the said cover element when open and to retain it in an-upwardly concave position.

' In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

PAUL BUNEVAC. 

